HERDING GROUP Q&A
Greyhound comb through my dogs/ bitches once a week. Their hair is also much easier to sweep up than most dogs. GINA KLANG I live in Thousand Palms,
How challenging has it been for exhibitors to find “majors?” In most divisions, it only takes an entry of five to six for a major in either sex. If exhibitors rally together and commit to travel, in most areas it is not hard to build majors. Remote locations and small shows don’t tend to draw majors, but there are typically larger shows that draw a good entry. In my area, it is not a lack of exhib- its that fails to pull majors, it is the lack of effort on the part of the exhibitors. Is there a market for “pet quality” puppies in my breed? I cannot speak for other breeders, but due to the reputation of my dogs for good temperament and health, I get a lot of pet/companion requests. Many of those are declined due to lack of experience, making the home unsuitable for this breed. Tervs are best served by a strong, experienced pack leader. The breed also requires a good amount of mental and physical stimulation, so active owners are best for a successful placement. I give show/performance homes placement priority and, thanks to a successful breeding program, I tend to have very few “pets.” Who were my mentors? I was fortunate to have been taken under the wing of one of the breed’s founding mothers, Edeltraud Laurin of Chateau Blanc Belgian Tervuren. I can still hear her, with her imposing German accent, telling me to always adhere to the breed standard! Above all else, those are her words of wisdom that I’d like to share! After her tutelage, she had enough faith in my commit- ment to appoint me an official judges’ education breed mentor, a position I embraced for 17 years. Another mentor to whom I am grateful was, and still is, Cher- yl Calm of Calm Bouvier de Flanders. Nearly 36 years ago, she patiently helped me learn and understand the mechanics of struc- ture and how it translates to movement. We have helped each other apply that knowledge to evaluating puppies. Even now, we put our heads together and collaborate on litter evaluations, puppy place- ments, pedigrees and breeding prospects. While we are long-time competitors, it is a shared love for our breeds and breeding that has made us lifetime friends. What is it about my breed that has sustained my interest and encouraged my involvement in the sport? I am struck by the beauty of the Belgian Tervuren, its athleticism, its zest for life, its sense of humor and its devotion to its people. I have a vision for my breeding
California, just two hours east of Los Angeles. My breed is Briards. Outside of dogs, I am a mother of three children, one being my tal- ented daughter, KayCee. When not at dog shows I enjoy riding my two Quarter Horses, Lagenta and Little Man. I have been involved with this amazing breed since 1995. Togeth-
er with my daughter, KayCee, who has been involved with showing and caring for Briards since she was a little girl [and] is now an integral part of Mon Amie Briards, we are a team and work together to breed beautiful, sound examples of the breed. We feel our dogs stand out not only for their lovely soundness and beauty, but for their amazing, stable, easy temperaments. Together we have raised (and KayCee has expertly handled) multiple Group-placing and Group-winning dogs, Specialty-winning dogs, National Specialty- winning dogs, and two generations of Best in Show and Reserve Best in Show dogs and almost 100 champions of record. It is my hope that when I am long gone KayCee will continue on and pre- serve the pedigrees and dogs of Mon Amie. How many years have I been involved in dogs and as a breeder? I have been involved with this amazing breed for 25 years now. I was given my first Briard as a gift, she was my first show dog. I started breeding in 1998 and had my first Briard litter. Do I compete in conformation, companion or performance events? My daughter and I compete in conformation, although over the years we have gotten some CGC’s on our dogs. Many of the dogs we’ve bred do have performance event titles, herding titles and even Farm Dog titles. Is my breed still capable of performing its original function? Bri- ards were bred to not only herd, but guard their flocks. Although temperaments, in my opinion, are less tough than dogs of years past, the dogs do still possess their natural instincts to herd. I do believe they would protect their families with their lives as well. Bri- ards have a sense of loyalty like no other dog I have ever owned. So, yes, I believe Briards of today (if given the opportunity to perform their original function) would absolutely be able to. Can I define the key essentials of “type” in my breed? To me, the Briard should be proud and alert, handsome, sound, well-balanced and of correct size and proportion, possessing a beautiful outline with a correct head of correct length. Am I pleased with my breed’s current overall quality and pop- ularity? Yes, I think breeders try hard to produce healthy, sound dogs. However, I believe our breed will be in trouble if breeders are not mindful of proportions, sickle hocks, and sound structure. Too much emphasis is being put on coat quality and color. We need to remember [that] this is a breed that needs to be able to cover the most amount of ground with the least amount of effort, tirelessly, for hours. The Briard is less popular than many of the other Herd- ing breeds. I believe [this is] because of the amount of time and socialization they require from puppyhood through adulthood, and because the coat requires time and effort to properly groom. How challenging has it been for exhibitors to find “majors?” Like many of the less popular or rare breeds, finding majors can be a struggle. Breeders and owners have to communicate and work together to get the required number of dogs entered for majors. This can be challenging if Briarders do not work together. >
program and my breed. I wish for a depth of quality in the ring that makes judging Tervs a plea- surable experience and a reward- ing challenge. As a breeder and exhibitor, I will continue to strive for that wish to become a reality.
JACQUELINE FINKEL I live in South Florida, in a rural district known as Southwest Ranches. My breed is Berger Picards, and my mentor was Betsy Richards, and still is Jackie Walker. They have instilled in me the awesome- ness of this breed. All of my dogs are currently able to perform their job of herding sheep. I have been involved in my breeding program for four years now and involved in conformation classes for over 20 years. I also par- ticipate in FCAT as well. I have done obedience when in 4-H as a child. I was involved with Berger Picards before they were accepted into AKC and were in the Miscellaneous Group. They were accept- ed into the AKC stud book on June 1, 2015. The “Winn Dixie Dog,” starring in the movie of the same name, is the Berger Picard and yes, they do shed, but a little grooming once a week keeps them from doing much of that. I generally run a
164 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JULY 2020
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